Tim Gunn to fete Martin O'Malley at Chefs for Equality

Martin O'Malley's avid support of gay marriage has gotten him plenty of headlines and now it's going to get him one heck of a meal.

Maryland's governor will be the guest of honor at the Chefs for Equality event Oct. 24 at Washington's Ritz Carlton, featuring a slew of celebrity chefs. Attending on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign are the region's culinary heavyweights including Bryan Voltaggio and Spike Gjerde.

Tim Gunn from "Project Runway" will be the emcee, and the event will be co-hosted by food columnist and author David Hagedorn.

"I'm honored to be part of HRC's Chefs for Equality event as we work to protect marriage equality at the ballot box in Maryland," O'Malley said in a statement. "Maryland will become the first state in the nation to successfully defend marriage equality at the ballot box, but we cannot do it without the hard work and support of so many including the Human Rights Campaign."

"Chefs for Equality will feature Washington’s best chefs and great food, all for the cause of marriage equality in Maryland," said HRC President Chad Griffin. "We are honored to partner with David Hagedorn in bringing together an unprecedented number of chefs for what promises to be an evening of fine dining with a passion for equality."

Tickets for Chefs for Equality are $300, available at chefsforequality.org, and allow guests tastes from 25 area restaurants. But people can also bid online to eat at a number of personal chef tables. The prize is a five-course menu for eight, plus eight tickets to the event, from paired chefs including Gjerde and Erik Bruner-Yang of Toki Underground, Voltaggio and Michel Richard of Central, Vikram Sunderam of Rasika and Nicholas Stefanelli of Bibiana, Ris Lacoste of Ris and Jamie Leeds of Hank’s Oyster Bar, Cathal Armstrong of Restaurant Eve and RJ Cooper of Rogue 24, Victor Albisu of Taco Bamba and Amy Brandwein of Chef AmyB, Enzo Fargione of Elisir and Peter Smith of PS 7’s, Nora Pouillon and Todd Woods of Restaurant Nora and Haidar Karoum of Proof/Estadio, and Cedric Maupillier of Mintwood Place and Devin Bozkaya of Westend Bistro.

"They are truly unique offerings and I know the chefs plan to pull out all the stops for them," Hagedorn said in a statement.

Celebrity mixologists will be making drinks, too.

Then, there's an after-party at Graffiato Restaurant starting at 10 p.m. Chefs, including Mike Isabella, will be cooking up small plates. Tickets are $50.